Gate-latch.



J. T. WREN.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1912.

1,053,765. Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN THOMAS WREN, OF STEEDMAN, MISSOURI.

GATE-LATCH.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, JULIAN T. WREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Steedman, in the county of Callaway and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a gate latch and more particularly to the class of self-locking gate latches.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a gate latch wherein on the swingin of a gate to closed position the latch wi automatically lock the said gate in such closed position and will not-permit the opening thereof unless the latch is brought to released position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a latch of this character which can be conveniently mounted upon a gate post and the keeper upon the gate so as to cooperate with each other for sustaining the ate closed when swung to such position, he latch being readily released from the keeper when it is desired to open the gate.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a latch of this character which is sim 1c in construction thoroughly reliable and e cient in its purpose and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illus trated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawingsr--Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a latch and a gate post. showing the latch constructed in accordance with the invention together with its keeper mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the keeperremovcd from the gate. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latch.

- Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals 5 designates algate which may be of any ordinary well-known construction and in this instance is of the swinging type while 6 indicates a latch post the same being also of the ordinary well known construction and is anchored in the ground in the usual manner.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 24, 1912.

loop 9 and the Patented Feb. 18, 1913'. Serial No. 722,090.

The latch comprises a bracket having parts 7 and 8 res iectively which are preferably constructed from metal in the form of strap irons, the part 8 being disposed at right-angles to the other part and is formed with a double end providing a bearing loop 9 through which is passed a latch lever 10 the latter being supported upon a pivot 11 which is passed transversely through the said lever whereby the latter may be rocked on the pivot for a purpose presently described. The pivot 11 is also passed through the end contiguous thereto of the part 7 thus connecting the same together, these parts being fastened in any desirable manner 'to the 0st in the position shown in Fig. l. of the rawing.

Formed on one end of the lever 10 is a spear or arrow shaped head 12 which will be termed hereinafter a locking head and is adapted to engage in a keeper presently described. the keeper comprising a resilient metal strip bent to "form asubstantially Y- shaped interu'icdiate portion 13 and opposed resilient arms H the same being formed with outwardly diverging hook shaped ends 15 with flared lips 16 and between these hook ends is adapted to engage the lockihg head 12 the latter being passed between the arms 14 on the, closing of the gate.

Formed in the intermediate portion 13 and at the point of juncture of the arms 11 therewith are eyes 17 through which are passed suitable fasteners 18 the same being engaged in the gate for securely mounting the keeper thereon in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

lVhen the gate is closed and the head 12 of the lever It) is engaged in the hook ends 15 ot' the keeper and it is desired to swing the gate to open position it will only be necessary to press downwardly on the free end of the lever 10 whereupon the head 12 will rise and in this manner disengage from between the hook ends 15 of the keeper and tlurrcby permit the said gate to be swung to open position.

Passed through theloop 5) and fixed, therein is a stop pin it) the latter engaging in a notch 20 formed in the lever 10, the pin it) being designed to limit the lowering movement of the headed end of thc said lever and thereby sustaining it in position for positive locking engagement with the hook ends 15 of the keeper.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention body carrying the ordinary nut so'that the same can be readil detached and thereby permit the reversal of the lever 10 thus changin' the latch into a right hand or left han one, the lever being provided with one or more openings 11 to permit the proper adjustment thereof in the loop 9 of the bracket.

hat is claimed is.

1. The combination with a keeper adapted to be mounted upon a gate and having resilient arms provided with hook ends, of a latch comprising a lever having a spear shaped head engageable between the hook endsof the spring'arms of said keeper, and

a bracket adapted to be mounted on a latchpost and supporting the said. lever.

' 2. The combination with a keeper adapted to be mounted upon a gate and having resilient arms provided with hook ends, of a latch comprising a lever having a spear shaped head engageable between the hook ends of the spring arms of said keeper, a bracket adapted to be mounted on a latch post and supporting the said lever, the said bracket being provided with a loop bearing, and a pivot passed through the bearing and the lever for swingingly connecting it thereto.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JULIAN THOMAS WREN.

lVitnesses E. \V. Hnnons, Jnssln S. Honors. 

